Need some opinions

[FirmResolve1!]

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I'll be starting college this fall as an honors student, but I'm really torn between two different degree options. I'm trying to decide if I should get my degree in Biology with an emphasis in Biomedical sciences, or if I should get it in Kinesiology. I want to do whatever will prepare me best for med school. What do you guys think?

 

[Siromas]

Personally, I wouldn't choose my undergrad degree based off of how well I thought it would prepare me for med school. Definitely choose a degree path that you'll: 1) enjoy & 2) excel in.

Despite that, a Bio degree might help you knock out some of the pre-reqs moreso than Kinesiology. Might also help you in preparing for the MCAT.

 

[FirmResolve1!]

I think I would probably end up enjoying the kinesiology route more, but I woulda have to take a lot of extra classes too get my pre -reqs in.

 

[NotYY4U]

I would take the route you think you would enjoy more. Just be sure to take the pre-req classes that will prepare you for the MCAT. I have been fighting this pre-med war for 8 years and have had more setbacks than anyone I know. If this is what you want, you will see time is not as much of a factor as you believe.

 

[deleted812153]

Pick whichever you think will get you a higher GPA. This is the age of metrics

 

[FirmResolve1!]

I would take the route you think you would enjoy more. Just be sure to take the pre-req classes that will prepare you for the MCAT. I have been fighting this pre-med war for 8 years and have had more setbacks than anyone I know. If this is what you want, you will see time is not as much of a factor as you believe.

Thank you. I have had a lot of setbacks in HS due to some circumstances that were out of my control.

 

[scpod]

Not that it really means much, but Biological sciences and Health sciences students seem to perform more poorly on the MCAT. But, those in Biological sciences far outweigh the numbers of matriculants with other degrees. It makes sense to me, though, to have a major where the requirements of that major are also the same as the ones that medical schools require. Just thinking out loud...

 

[FirmResolve1!]

Not that it really means much, but Biological sciences and Health sciences students seem to perform more poorly on the MCAT. But, those in Biological sciences far outweigh the numbers of matriculants with other degrees. It makes sense to me, though, to have a major where the requirements of that major are also the same as the ones that medical schools require. Just thinking out loud...

That's a good observation, but the people with the highest scores got their degree in math and stats. That is definitely not my cup of tea. Biology students still perform higher than those with some of the other degrees. I'll most likely end doing biology.

 

[Magus5454]

I think the math and stats majors don't have a large enough sample size compared to the bio majors to draw any conclusions.

 

[rg2o3]

I think if I would go back in time that I would have chosen a different undergrad degree (Was a Bio major). I would have chosen a degree that I though was more interesting. I loved my bio degree when it came to human/cell bio type stuff, but hated some of the other forms of bio. So I would say choose a degree you really enjoy (will make it easier to study) as well as one that you think you can get the highest GPA in.

 

[giguerex35]

Would agree with most other people on here do one that you’ll do well in and enjoy not one you think will prepare you cause odds are it won’t prepare you as much as ya think. If I could go back would not be a bio major

 

[Cath Up]

One more vote for taking whichever courses interest you and will get you the highest GPA. I went gen bio, which put in me courses with a bunch of other pre-meds, which increased competition. I am confident I would have a very different trajectory had I taken the liberal arts courses that interested me and I was good at, while knocking out the pre-med science courses over time. There is absolutely no need to major in any of the hard sciences in order to get into med school. I would argue that you'll be a better rounded applicant if you take social sciences and other courses that interest you, because you won't have as much chance to take those in the future.

Also would not be a bio major if I could go back.

 

[Cath Up]

I think the math and stats majors don't have a large enough sample size compared to the bio majors to draw any conclusions.

Underrated post.

 

[Cath Up]

That's a good observation, but the people with the highest scores got their degree in math and stats. That is definitely not my cup of tea. Biology students still perform higher than those with some of the other degrees. I'll most likely end doing biology.

It is one thing to look at the data regarding students who went x major scored x on the MCAT or on med school steps, and choose your major using that. I suppose that can help, but you should also recognize that if you know you are going to go for med school, you choose your own fate and how much work you put in. You don't have to be the statistic of a social sciences major doing worse on the MCAT. Is there data showing that bio majors had higher GPAs? I would be willing to bet that a high GPA is more attainable outside of common pre-med majors.

 

[stickgirl390]

Just throwing my experience in there: my degree was completely unrelated to medicine (only 1 course overlapped with the prereqs and that was English). It took me a total of 6 years in school to earn my degree and complete the medical school prereqs. I’m very happy with my choice, but it did add 2 extra years of schooling and 4 gap years to my timeline. (2 gaps while deciding to change careers, 2 gaps completing ECs)

 

[Shotapp]

Would agree with most other people on here do one that you’ll do well in and enjoy not one you think will prepare you cause odds are it won’t prepare you as much as ya think. If I could go back would not be a bio major

I agree. I would have majored in Art or Psychology.